DavidKrump
Recruit
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2008
- Messages
- 3
Please help. My back is killing me and I can't work on this outdrive anymore unless I solve this mystery. Working on a 1989 Wellcraft 170 I/O with 3.0L Mercruiser and Alpha 1 outdrive.
Here are the facts: Bought a new outdrive, upper and lower from Sterndrive Engineering. Installed as per manual but did not turn lower unit shift shaft into forward and hold with CCW propeller lock-up as shown in the manual. I know this now, didn't see that page when we did it. Result: With remote shifter in full forward - or any position - prop turns in reverse. Boat started but even in neutral position prop turned in reverse. Handle would move into reverse but engine cut-off occurred.
OK, so NOW I read the manual more carefully. Take off lower unit. Now here is the difficult part. Manual says:
5. Move gear housing shift shaft (on lower unit) clockwise to shift gear housing into forward gear.
Note: Gear housing may be held in forward gear by applying light pressure to propeller shaft CCW.
OK, did that. The tiny splined brass shaft turns about 1/4 turn either direction to engage forward or reverse. Turned it CW till engaged, held by turning prop CCW which locks it. Will click when turned CW, locks up CCW as it should with shift shaft engaged CW. Made absolutely sure I had it engaged and locked into forward this time, with remote shifter in forward.
Sliding the lower unit back on, I was afraid to move the prop CW to engage the drive shaft and spent a few hours trying to get it that last inch. Finally figured out, as the book says, I have to rotate the prop CW once engaged to get it to align and go in. Got it in and now the shifter is stuck in forward. I can pull the remote shift handle back to almost neutral before it jambs. Can't start at all. Prop locks when turning CCW, ratchets CW.
So I've installed this twice now and I am too old and too sore to do it again, without knowing what to do different. Here is my main mystery and probably the root of my problems. The drive shaft shift shaft (from the upper unit) is kind of anvil shaped on the top must be in full forward position. I find it comical that for installing the lower unit, the manual instructs the shaft must be in forward position and shows the position of the top of the shaft (in the upper unit). It doesn't give any guidance about how you can tell it is full forward WHEN YOU CAN"T SEE IT because it is in the upper unit.
We did make sure it was in the correct position when we put the upper unit on, but all bets are off now. I read that part of the manual when we installed the upper, but I missed the part about rotating the lower unit shift shaft into forward gear position. So this time, when re-installing the lower I had to guess abut the position of the drive shaft housing shift shaft which hangs down from the upper unit. I am able to push up on the bottom of the shaft and turn it, then drop it back down. I did my best to guess (assume) which position was correct, but may be off by 180? or just off altogether.
I really don't want to take off the upper unit again, just to align this shaft. Can anyone tell me how to align it from the end that engages the shift shaft on the lower unit? I just re-purchased my boat from a friend and was hoping to get out this weekend and a little more before the end of the season. So far, all I've done is work on it. Was willing to let the boat shops do it but they are all backlogged for three weeks. So...I did it myself and feel I am worse off for it.
I appreciate any advice you can offer. BTW, I don't feel my problems are cable related. I've checked everything there to the manual.
Thanks, David Krump, Frederick MD
Here are the facts: Bought a new outdrive, upper and lower from Sterndrive Engineering. Installed as per manual but did not turn lower unit shift shaft into forward and hold with CCW propeller lock-up as shown in the manual. I know this now, didn't see that page when we did it. Result: With remote shifter in full forward - or any position - prop turns in reverse. Boat started but even in neutral position prop turned in reverse. Handle would move into reverse but engine cut-off occurred.
OK, so NOW I read the manual more carefully. Take off lower unit. Now here is the difficult part. Manual says:
5. Move gear housing shift shaft (on lower unit) clockwise to shift gear housing into forward gear.
Note: Gear housing may be held in forward gear by applying light pressure to propeller shaft CCW.
OK, did that. The tiny splined brass shaft turns about 1/4 turn either direction to engage forward or reverse. Turned it CW till engaged, held by turning prop CCW which locks it. Will click when turned CW, locks up CCW as it should with shift shaft engaged CW. Made absolutely sure I had it engaged and locked into forward this time, with remote shifter in forward.
Sliding the lower unit back on, I was afraid to move the prop CW to engage the drive shaft and spent a few hours trying to get it that last inch. Finally figured out, as the book says, I have to rotate the prop CW once engaged to get it to align and go in. Got it in and now the shifter is stuck in forward. I can pull the remote shift handle back to almost neutral before it jambs. Can't start at all. Prop locks when turning CCW, ratchets CW.
So I've installed this twice now and I am too old and too sore to do it again, without knowing what to do different. Here is my main mystery and probably the root of my problems. The drive shaft shift shaft (from the upper unit) is kind of anvil shaped on the top must be in full forward position. I find it comical that for installing the lower unit, the manual instructs the shaft must be in forward position and shows the position of the top of the shaft (in the upper unit). It doesn't give any guidance about how you can tell it is full forward WHEN YOU CAN"T SEE IT because it is in the upper unit.
We did make sure it was in the correct position when we put the upper unit on, but all bets are off now. I read that part of the manual when we installed the upper, but I missed the part about rotating the lower unit shift shaft into forward gear position. So this time, when re-installing the lower I had to guess abut the position of the drive shaft housing shift shaft which hangs down from the upper unit. I am able to push up on the bottom of the shaft and turn it, then drop it back down. I did my best to guess (assume) which position was correct, but may be off by 180? or just off altogether.
I really don't want to take off the upper unit again, just to align this shaft. Can anyone tell me how to align it from the end that engages the shift shaft on the lower unit? I just re-purchased my boat from a friend and was hoping to get out this weekend and a little more before the end of the season. So far, all I've done is work on it. Was willing to let the boat shops do it but they are all backlogged for three weeks. So...I did it myself and feel I am worse off for it.
I appreciate any advice you can offer. BTW, I don't feel my problems are cable related. I've checked everything there to the manual.
Thanks, David Krump, Frederick MD
